The Nova Scotian Ranting Book Reviewer

Saturday, 25 February 2017

I’ve always enjoyed writing and have
been a “daydreamer” all of my life. It wasn’t until 2016 when I started sharing
some of the stories that were in my head that several published authors
encouraged me to push that publish button.

2.Where do you get your
ideas for your book?

Everywhere. As an example, the one I’m working on now, “His
Forever”, came about during my long 600 mile drive home from Virginia. I was on
a back road with no cell signal and my mind started thinking “what if”…with
nearly 24k down already, I have to say, it’s going to be interesting!

3.What kind of things do you
enjoy when not writing?

I’m a licensed master cosmetologist, so I serve the seniors in
several different assisted living homes several times a month. I love to read
and have been known to stay up all night if the book is good. And while I
haven’t done it as much lately, I enjoy crocheting and making things for
others.

4.How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?

Right now, I
have four published books. One just came back from the editor and is back in my
beta readers’ hands for one final read-through. It will be included in an
upcoming boxset “Happy Valencuff” and also be published as a standalone
(Operation Valentine). While my first one will always hold a special place, I think
the one that was just published, “Heaven’s Sinners MC – Her Kinsman-Redeemer”
is my favorite.

5.Do you have any
suggestions to help others who have a passion for writing?

Keep writing. Find a group of people you trust to read what
you’ve written and listen to their suggestions. Don’t be afraid to hit publish.
Ask an author (or two) that you currently follow in a private message if they
will mentor you. The indie community is, for the most part, a community of
folks who are willing to help others succeed.

6.What do you think makes a
great story?

Hmm, that’s a tough question. I think when the writer has an
idea and lets the characters tell the story the way they want to, it makes for
a great read. You don’t always need angst or drama, sometimes a sweet love
story is a refreshing change, you know? I think, too, if the writer makes their
characters believable, the reader becomes invested in the story. So, if a
writer can produce a story that gives the reader the “feels”? It’s a great
story in my book!

7.Which Writer/Authors
inspire you?

How much space
do I have? I cut my teeth on the likes of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Jude Devereaux
and Fern Michaels. Having fallen into the world of indie authors, there are so
many I look to for inspiration, most of whom have encouraged this crazy journey
of mine. I know I’ll leave someone out, but off the top of my head – L. Ann
Marie, Barbi Barnard, MariaLisa DeMora, Winter Travers, Kathleen Kelly, Geri
Glenn, Glenna Maynard, Jordan Marie , Cherry Shephard – all have inspired me in
one way or another. And then there is GM Scherbert and Bb Blaque – while I
don’t write the kind of books they do, they’ve still been very encouraging in
this journey.

8.What are you working on at
the moment?(optional)

I’ve got several percolating right now, but in the forefront is
“His Forever”, the story I came up with driving home from Virginia after a
lovely vacation with my son and his family.

9.What genre are your books?

Hmmm, they’re all over the map! I have two different Christian
MCs out, and two contemporary romances out. But I have another contemporary
romance (or ten) coming, and also have quite a bit done on a shifter story.

10.What drew you to the genre
you write?

Honestly, the muses dictate the story which determines the genre
ultimately. I have another MC series started, not a Christian MC but not a 1%
either (although a fellow author has lent me some of her characters to take
care of business!), the shifter series, and several more contemporary romances.

11.Which Actor/Actress would
you like to see portraying the lead character from your most recent book?(any
book you like)

I visualized Sam Elliott while creating Zeke from Her
Kinsman-Redeemer, so definitely an older actor (maybe 40s) with a bit of salt
and pepper, and I love the woman who played in the movie “Easy A”. She’d make a
great Angelina!

12.Do you write full-time or
part-time?

Right now, it’s part-time. I would love it if I could write
full-time, but it’s not possible. So I get words in whenever they strike,
carrying around a notebook to jot stuff down and then sometimes, staying up all
night to get words onto the document.

13.What is the hardest thing
about writing?

Writing sex scenes is tough for me. I don’t want them to appear
mechanical, you know? And because I publish under my real name, I’m always
worried that folks who know me in real life will be like “I thought she
believed in “x” and here she is writing a sex scene!”

14.Any tips on how to get
through the dreaded Writer’s block?

Keep putting words down. Even if you go back and edit them out,
keep writing. If you are genuinely stuck, go read. Clean the house. Go
shopping. When push comes to shove, I will have conversations with my muses to
ask what in the world they are doing. I might be a little bit crazy. I think
all writers are because we listen to the characters.

15.Do you read much, and if
so who are your favorite Authors or genres?

I usually read before bed, and have a slew of one-click authors
ranging from Kristen Ashley to Winter Travers. I also beta read for a number of
authors and their genres are all over the place. About the only thing I don’t
care for is science fiction (think Star Wars, not the paranormal stuff that’s
out there).

16.Is there anything else you
would like to add that I haven’t included?

If not for my beta readers and my editor, I don’t think I would
have hit publish. My biggest suggestion for anyone who wants to become an
author– follow your dream. There are so many who will encourage you. Search
those folks out.

17.How can Readers discovery
more about you and your work?(please provide proper links)

I wanted to become a writer the first time I read Nancy Drew and then later, Sweet Valley High a long, long time ago, in a land far, far away. ;)

•Where do you get your ideas for your book?

I get inspiration everywhere. It can be from clan lore, a song, the scenery. The idea for my paranormal romance stories came from ‘what if’ moments. Like what if I make a hybrid from two paranormal beings who despise each other (i.e.) vampires and werewolves? And the Cynn Cruors was born.

•What kind of things do you enjoy when not writing?

I like to people watch when I can because I can make up stories in my head about what they are thinking. I’ve rediscovered my love for baking and cooking. I love going to the movies and I’m happy that my son has developed a liking for movies too. When I can, I just like reading in bed in my jammies.

•How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

I’ve written 16 books and novellas (I think!) and there’s still more to come!

•Do you have any suggestions to help others who have a passion for writing?

Passion is the most important part of writing! Without passion, it can be so easy to give up the dream and doubt yourself. Learn from your favourite authors. Keep at it. Study the rules so that you’ll know how to bend them. Rules are just guides. And write for yourself first before others. Why? Because if you’re not really invested in what you write, readers will notice.

•What do you think makes a great story?

A great plot and characters a reader can empathize with. A great story is one where a reader feels what the characters are going through. A great story is one which stays with you even after the last page has been read and the paperback has been closed.

•Which Writer/Authors inspire you?

In the paranormal genre, it would be Tina Folsom, J.R. Ward, and Donna Grant. I love their books!

•What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on three books at the moment. Yup! I’m going banana bonkers! I’ve just released Midnight's Yule and in the middle of completing Dragonslayer, Dragon Heart.

•What genre are your books?

My main genre is paranormal followed by contemporary romance and historical romance.

•What drew you to the genre you write?

My love for reading novels in the genre I write. :)

•Which Actor/Actress would you like to see portraying the lead character from your most recent book?(any book you like)

Oh wow, I really wouldn’t know. I always thought Jason Momoa would make a good Herod D’Argyle from Midnight’s Paradox. Henry Cavill would make a fantastic Roarke Hamilton from Forever at Midnight.

•Do you write full-time or part-time?

I write part-time. Wish it could be full time. What stories I could write!

•What is the hardest thing about writing?

When there are too many interruptions. And because I'm a part-time writer, the lack of time to really immerse myself in the story to write.

•Any tips on how to get through the dreaded Writer’s block?

Move away from your manuscript and take a breather. If you still haven’t written anything yet, do the ‘What if’ game/prompt. Ask yourself ‘what if’ questions and it can start the creative juices flowing. Writer’s block is mainly your brain saying, “Hey, I need a break!”.

•Do you read much, and if so who are your favorite Authors or genres?

I’ve always liked a good mystery. Maybe someday I might try that genre, who knows? I used to read The Prophet by Khalil Gibran a lot. I still do to this day. It’s a beautiful poem that can teach us a lot of things about life. I’m a Potter fan so I’ve read Harry Potter and have watched the films. When I was much younger I voraciously read all of the Nancy Drew mysteries I could get my hands on. I loved that series! I would love go back to a time when I could read at leisure.

•Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

Authors will never be able to share their stories without readers and bloggers like you. Thank you. :)

•How can Readers discover more about you and your work?(please provide proper links)

I’m not sure I ever had a moment where I realized
it. I like to read and love stories. I
also drive about three hours to visit my family and some friends and would get
tired of the radio (before I found Audio books enjoyable) and so I would turn
off the radio and think of stories to tell myself... Next thing you know I’m
writing one down and hitting publish.

2.Where do you get your
ideas for your book?

Oh geez, some are pulled partly
from my life, others I think up based on a conversations I have with someone.
Some just come to me in the shower.

3.What kind of things do you
enjoy when not writing?

I like to craft, spend time with family and friends,
generally just try to have some fun, try new things.

4.How many books have you
written? Which is your favorite?

So far I have published three, I have three on my computer
waiting to be finished and some more ideas floating around in my head.

Right now I would say Carpe Diem is my favorite… I loved the
characters and the message of Seizing the Day.

5.Do you have any
suggestions to help others who have a passion for writing?

Get the stories out of you, find a good editor and let your
friends read it… then let strangers read it.

6.What do you think makes a
great story?

A story that pulls you in, one that makes you feel what the
characters feel. I like getting goosebumps, having a good cry or a good laugh
while reading.

7.Which Writer/Authors
inspire you?

Oh gosh… There are too many to list… Anyone who can put their
heart into a story and then let us into that world is inspiring.

8.What are you working on at
the moment?(optional)

I have three projects in the works, Carpe Deim was supposed
to be a standalone, but there is another story to tell.

I have a dumb comedy that will be a novella

And then there is Mixed Drinks three…

9.What genre are your books?

Romantic Comedy & contemporary romance.

10.What drew you to the genre
you write?

I’m not sure… Those were the stories fighting to get out of
me. I may have a different one in me some day, but right now that is where the
stories are taking me.

11.Which Actor/Actress would
you like to see portraying the lead character from your most recent book? (any
book you like)

Oh gosh, I don’t know. I would probably go with some unknown
Actor/Actress…

12.Do you write full-time or
part-time?

I am part time, unfortunately I have not won the Lottery yet…

13.What is the hardest thing
about writing?

When the story stops talking to me. I can’t force it; I have
to see it play out in my head and when the images are gone the book waits until
I can see it again. I hate when that happens… It generally happens for me when
there is a huge cross roads for someone, I tend to over think choices in my
personal life and now so do the characters.

14.Any tips on how to get
through the dreaded Writer’s block?

I take long showers, talk to my friends, try to write an
outline of future events, sometimes I skip a chapter and move on, then come
back to it, or I just walk away from it for a while. And that is the reason I
have three books started right now.

15.Do you read much, and if
so who are your favorite Authors or genres?

I read when I can, I love Fantasy & Romance… I bounce
between authors

16.Is there anything else you
would like to add that I haven’t included?

I love all my readers and I hope to get a few more books out
to you soon!!

17.How can Readers discovery more
about you and your work? (please provide proper links)

Thursday, 16 February 2017

The
werewolf prince Etienne is turning into a human. A fierce and loyal
pack, Etienne and his family have protected their kingdom with tooth and
claw—literally—for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, the spell of a
well-meaning witch is slowly stealing the beast from inside him. Only
the bite of a cursed werewolf—one who was not born with the beast
inside—can save him from losing everything. He has no time for anything
that will not lead him to a cure for the curse. Not even the beautiful
maiden whose gentle nature soothes his soul even as she tempts him into
primal pursuits of an entirely different nature…

A maiden enslaved by her stepfamily, who dares to reach for more...

Loupe
lives in terror. Terror of the bloodthirsty stepfamily who treats her
like a slave, and terror of the beast trapped inside her. Bitten by a
werewolf while dealing with the illegal gains of her stepfamily’s
poaching, Loupe’s dreams of a strong husband who would take her away
from her servant-like existence are over. A woman who becomes a mindless
beast on the night of the full moon has no place in a marriage bed. Not
even if that bed belongs to a prince with the manners of royalty and
the hungry eyes of a wolf.

Nothing will stand between an alpha wolf and his mate...

A
grand ball. The stroke of twelve. A magic “slipper.” All kinds of
things can happen when you don’t leave the ball...Before Midnight.

My Review

I
really fell in love with this book...I would also love to take the time
to thank the Author Jennifer Blackstream, for doing what you do for us
Readers...I will definitely be back to read more :)

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Daniel Schwartz never meant to uncover the apocalypse, unfortunately for her that’s exactly what happened. Yet while it’s clear to the Kiwi hacktivist what she should do; cover it back up and get completely smashed, the rest of the world doesn’t agree. A shady corporation places her in a beachside prison where they promise to hold her until she agrees to talk. Dani would be pretty annoyed if she weren't: a) Biologically incapable of being annoyed b) Very intrigued by the men hired to guard her c) Extremely hungover John, Colt, and Seb have poured a lot of time and money into their private security business the last thing they need is to waste six weeks babysitting a hyperactive hippie. Sadly they’ve signed a dubious but watertight contract. Each of the three men finds himself drawn to the weird, pop-obsessed Daniel and she to them. As they become entangled in each other’s lives Daniel is forced to answer some big questions such as; how can you escape when there’s nowhere safe to go? How can a commitmentphobe fall for not one, but three different men? And, most importantly, should New Zealanders kick people who call them Hobbits? (Yes.) Taunt is a heart-stopping erotic thriller; chock full of science, nail-biting suspense, period jokes and good old fashioned lust.

Review

I love this book...I also love the main character in this as well Daniel Schwartz...Definitely a must read if you like Erotic Thrillers...A special thank you to the Author Eve Dangerfield for doing what you do for us Readers :) I will be back to read more ;)